Where to Watch Birds in Scotland

Author: Mike Madders
Publisher: Christopher Helm Publishers, Incorporated
ISBN: 9780713656930
Category : Bird watching
Languages : en
Pages : 297

Book Description
This bird-finding guide is a reference to the best birding sites of Scotland. Each site is described in terms of the nature of the habitat, the species likely to be observed, the recommended timings for visits to get the best from the site, and a calendar showing which species are found in the various seasons. The site accounts also mention other interesting wildlife that may be encountered - for example, Scotland is home to some of Britain's most enigmatic mammal species.

Highlands - Scotland's Wild Heart

Author: Stephen Moss
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472919025
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 491

Book Description
In the very north of Britain, far from the bustling cities and picturesque countryside to the south, lies Western Europe's most magnificent wilderness: the Scottish Highlands. This is a land shaped by the flow of ancient ice, where snow-capped mountains tower over ink-black lochs, Golden Eagles soar over heather-clad moors, and Red Deer stags engage in mortal combat for the right to win a mate. Along the coast, sea cliffs and offshore islands teem with millions of seabirds, while the seas themselves are home to Basking Sharks, Orcas and Bottlenose Dolphins. The Highlands may, at first sight, seem bleak and desolate, but they are also filled with hidden wonders, from the ancient Caledonian pine forests to the vast Flow Country, and from the sheer granite cliffs of Handa to the mysterious depths of Loch Ness. In this lavish book, Stephen Moss's thoughtful, authoritative text, accompanied throughout by spectacular photography from Laurie Campbell, follows a year in the lives of a stellar cast of wild animals as they live, feed, breed and die in this beautiful, yet unforgiving landscape - a land where only the toughest survive.

Top Birding Sites of Europe

Author: Dominic Couzens
Publisher: New Holland Australia(AU)
ISBN: 9781847737670
Category : Bird watching
Languages : en
Pages : 192

Book Description
If you have ever dreamt of seeing Snowy Owls in Norway, spectacular raptor migration by the Black Sea, Wallcreepers in the Pyrenees or seabird cities off Scotland, then this book and CD package is for you. Top Birding Sites of Europe features more than 30 detailed accounts of the continent's finest bird locations, from the famous Camargue and Coto Doñana, to some less well known but no less productive destinations. The expertly written and very readable text is backed up by lavish photos of the birds and scenery at each of the chosen hot-spots, including rare images of amazing species and some of the continent's most stunning avian spectacles. A CD of key birds sounds complements the entries on each site. Whether you want to use it to plan your holidays for years to come, or just as an inspirational book to dip into, Top Birding Sites of Europe will have a wide appeal for all those with an interest in birds.

The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands & Islands

Author: Rob Humphreys
Publisher: Rough Guides UK
ISBN: 0241007682
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 614

Book Description
The new, full-colour Rough Guide to the Scottish Highlands & Islands is the definitive travel guide to this untamed region, with detailed, stylish maps and stunning photography to bring it all to life. From the deserted white strands of South Harris to moody Glen Coe, this is the perfect place to drop off the radar, whether you're camping wild or staying in a boutique bolthole. The Munro summits are as much of a challenge as ever, and the Highlands are also stuffed with myriad other opportunities for adventure, from world-class sea kayaking and mountain biking to near empty surf-breaks. Whether you're travelling by car, bike or public transport the guide's comprehensive travel advice will help you navigate your way around easily and point you in the direction of incredible animals such as puffins and whales. Up-to-date and honest reviews of all the best accommodation and home-grown, fresh eating options for all budgets will all ensure that you maximize your time in this, the most stunning part of Scotland. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands & Islands. Now available in ePub format.

Much Ado About Mothing

Author: James Lowen
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472966996
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 385

Book Description
James Lowen narrates a year-long quest to see Britain's rarest and more remarkable moths. Although mostly unseen by us, moths are everywhere. And their capacity to delight astounds. Inspired by a revelatory encounter with a Poplar Hawk-moth – a huge, velvety-winged wonder wrapped in silver – James Lowen embarks on a year-long quest to celebrate the joy of Britain's rarest and most remarkable moths. By hiking up mountains, wading through marshes and roaming by night amid ancient woodlands, James follows the trails of both Victorian collectors and present-day conservationists. Seeking to understand why they and many ordinary folk love what the general public purports to hate, his investigations reveal a heady world of criminality and controversy, derring-do and determination. From Cornwall to the Cairngorms, James explores British landscapes to coax these much-maligned creatures out from the cover of darkness and into the light. Moths are revealed to be attractive, astonishing and approachable; capable of migratory feats and camouflage mastery, moths have much to tell us on the state of the nation's wild and not-so-wild habitats. As a counterweight to his travels, James and his young daughter track the seasons through a kaleidoscope of moth species living innocently yet covertly in their suburban garden. Without even leaving home, they bond over a shared joy in the uncommon beauty of common creatures, for perhaps the greatest virtue of moths, we learn, is their accessibility. Moths may be everywhere, but above all, they are here. Quite unexpectedly, no animals may be better placed to inspire the environmentalists of the future.

The Golden Eagle

Author: Jeff Watson
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408134551
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 466

Book Description
This comprehensive monograph is a second edition of one of the most popular Poyser monographs. It covers all aspects of this spectacular eagle's biology and ecology, including a full review of the literature and incorporating the considerable body of research on the species since the publication of the first edition in 1997. The late Jeff Watson was one of Scotland's foremost eagle experts, with more than 20 years of research on the birds; following Jeff's untimely death, the book is being completed by his colleagues Des Thompson and Helen Riley. Scottish studies provide the foundation for a treatment that also includes up-to-date information from work in North America, continental Europe and elsewhere. This global view allows fascinating insights into the species' relationships with a variety of different habitats and leads to many new and important conclusions regarding its ecology. This highly readable and authoritative account is the standard reference on the species, both in Scotland and elsewhere in the world. The text is enriched with many superb pictures of this majestic bird and additional wash landscapes capture the very special atmosphere of Scotland's Golden Eagle country.

The Birds of Scotland

Author: Christopher J. McInerny
Publisher: Mitchell Beazley
ISBN: 9780951213902
Category : Birds
Languages : en
Pages : 1634

Book Description
'The Birds of Scotland' gives accounts of 509 species, describing changes in population over time, and identifies species of specific concern, key habitats and those at most risk. It provides essential information to assist in the targeting of environmental and conservation action.

Rebirding

Author: Benedict Macdonald
Publisher: Pelagic Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1784271888
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 372

Book Description
WINNER OF THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR WRITING ON GLOBAL CONSERVATION Winner of the Richard Jefferies Society and White Horse Book Shop Literary Prize ‘splendid’ —Guardian ‘visionary’ —New Statesman Rebirding takes the long view of Britain’s wildlife decline, from the early taming of our landscape and its long-lost elephants and rhinos, to fenland drainage, the removal of cornerstone species such as wild cattle, horses, beavers and boar – and forward in time to the intensification of our modern landscapes and the collapse of invertebrate populations. It looks at key reasons why species are vanishing, as our landscapes become ever more tamed and less diverse, with wildlife trapped in tiny pockets of habitat. It explores how Britain has, uniquely, relied on modifying farmland, rather than restoring ecosystems, in a failing attempt to halt wildlife decline. The irony is that 94% of Britain is not built upon at all. And with more nature-loving voices than any European country, we should in fact have the best, not the most impoverished, wildlife on our continent. Especially when the rural economics of our game estates, and upland farms, are among the worst in Europe. Britain is blessed with all the space it needs for an epic wildlife recovery. The deer estates of the Scottish Highlands are twice the size of Yellowstone National Park. Snowdonia is larger than the Maasai Mara. The problem in Britain is not a lack of space. It is that our precious space is uniquely wasted – not only for wildlife, but for people’s jobs and rural futures too. Rebirding maps out how we might finally turn things around: rewilding our national parks, restoring natural ecosystems and allowing our wildlife a far richer future. In doing so, an entirely new sector of rural jobs would be created; finally bringing Britain’s dying rural landscapes and failing economies back to life.

Regeneration

Author: Andrew Painting
Publisher: Birlinn
ISBN: 1788853822
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 325

Book Description
In 1995 the National Trust for Scotland acquired Mar Lodge Estate in the heart of the Cairngorms. Home to over 5,000 species, this vast expanse of Caledonian woodlands, subarctic mountains, bogs, moors, roaring burns and frozen lochs could be a place where environmental conservation and Highland field sports would exist in harmony. The only problem was that due to centuries of abuse by human hands, the ancient Caledonian pinewoods were dying, and it would take radical measures to save them. After 25 years of extremely hard work, the pinewoods, bogs, moors and mountains are returning to their former glory. Regeneration is the story of this success, featuring not only the people who are protecting the land and quietly working to undo the wrongs of the past, but also the myriad creatures which inspire them to do so. In addition, it also tackles current controversies such as raptor persecution, deer management and rewilding and asks bigger questions about the nature of conservation itself: what do we see when we look at our wild places? What should we see?

Skye Birds

Author: Bob McMillan
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780955025303
Category : Bird watching
Languages : en
Pages : 176

Book Description